Professional Cooking

Intake to this program is suspended for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years.

Are you a high school graduate, looking for a new career or a lifelong learner? Do you love to cook? Do you thrive in high-energy environments? Then check out Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Professional Cooking program. Professional Cooking is Saskatchewan’s most recognized culinary training program and is quickly becoming a nationally and internationally recognized credential—it’s your fast track to a career.

Program participants gain fundamental skills in food preparation, cooking, time management, critical thinking and develop the confidence to advance their career in the world of food. Our graduates are working as cooks, kitchen managers, banquet chefs, sous chefs and chefs … in Saskatchewan, around the province, across Canada, on cruise ships, in vacation resorts and at upscale fishing lodges.

Professional Cooking is a one-year (35 week) certificate program offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Moose Jaw campus and Saskatchewan Polytechnic Prince Albert campus. We’ll give you the kind of hands-on training you need to work as part of a culinary team. Our low student-to-instructor ratio means lots of one-on-one time with your instructors—all Red Seal certified cooks and many Certified Chefs de Cuisine. You’ll build knowledge and practical skills in:

• basic cooking principles
• baking
• food presentation
• kitchen management
• meat, seafood and poultry preparation
• quantity food production
• short-order food production
• safety, sanitation and WHMIS

Our Kitchen is Your Classroom

Approximately 70% of your “class” time is hands-on training in Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s well-equipped kitchens. You’ll also get hands-on experience preparing foods for the campus cafeteria.

Apprenticeship Credit

With this Saskatchewan Polytechnic credential, you may be eligible for credit towards apprenticeship training. To learn more, contact the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC).

Trade to Degree

The Bachelor of Applied Management (BAMgt) degree provides journeypersons the unique opportunity to leverage existing education and experience into a bachelor's degree with two years of additional study. Part-time and remote options are available.

Your Career

When you graduate, you’ll find employment opportunities in major hotels, restaurants, cruise ship companies, vacation destination resorts and catering facilities. There are jobs in institutional food service establishments, such as hospitals and care homes, and also in the growing retirement community market.

Potential Careers

• September - Moose Jaw (International Students)
• September - Prince Albert

• Moose Jaw
• Prince Albert

Admission Requirements

• Grade 10
• English Language Requirement

Alternative Admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

• 250 Arithmetic
• 237 Reading

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission Method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

2021/22 Academic Year

$10,000

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

• Candidate Guide
• More about PLAR

Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

• Personal Readiness

• Culinary Arts
• Food Service Cook
• Institutional Cooking